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☆ Germany walks back plan to meet NATO spending target on annual basis
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Holger Hansen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The German government has retreated from a plan to legally commit itself to meeting NATO's 2% military spending target on an annual basis, a government source told Reuters on Wednesday. The change means that Germany will be able to stick to its current pledge of meeting the 2% target on average over a five-year period. NATO allies have criticised Berlin strongly in the past for not spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defence annually. It is unclear whether Berlin will keep military spending over this threshold once a 100 billion euro ($101 billion) special fund to bring the Bundeswehr back up to standard is used up.

Persons: Yves Herman, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, " Scholz, Holger Hansen, Miranda Murray, Sabine Siebold, Friederike Heine, Rachel More Organizations: NATO, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Bundeswehr, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine, Berlin

☆ ‘No Space for Us’: Greeks Fight Beach Takeover by Pricey Sun Chairs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Niki Kitsantonis | More About Niki Kitsantonis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It is peak tourist season in Greece, and on the pristine Monastiri beach on the northern tip of Paros island, a phalanx of lounge chairs with red umbrellas covers the sand. “In some cases they covered 100 percent of the beach,” said Nicolas Stephanou, 70, a local resident. “We feel we’re being pushed off the island,” he added, explaining that people are made to feel unwelcome unless they use the services of the beach bars that own the chairs. Many local people like Mr. Stephanou have had enough, saying seaside businesses have left them hardly a scrap of sand on which to lay their towels. Since starting in July, the protests have caught on nationwide, inspiring a “beach towel movement” organized over social media from Corfu in the north to Crete in the south.

Persons: ”, Nicolas Stephanou, Stephanou Locations: Greece, ”, Corfu, Crete

☆ Opinion | The Book Banners and I Have One Thing in Common
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Garret Keizer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even classics can go out of print, but the war on books is never out of style. I was as opposed to that war at the age of 17 as I am at age 70. But there’s something I failed to see in my youth that I recognize today: the one piece of common ground between the book banners and me. We both believe that books matter, that they have the power to change a young person’s life. Access to the books was restricted, yes, but no one was calling for their removal.

Locations: New Jersey

☆ Supreme Court blocks Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioid settlement, will hear challenge
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

(Prescription Addiction Intervention Now) and Truth Pharm staged a rally and die-in outside New York's Southern District Federal Court in White Plains. The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked for now a $6 billion bankruptcy settlement by Purdue Pharma that would protect its Sackler family owners from civil lawsuits related to the opioid crisis. The Supreme Court also said it will hear a challenge to the settlement by Purdue, the maker of the opioid OxyContin, by a U.S. Bankruptcy trustee. There were no dissents by any of the court's justices in the order granting the requested hold. The case will be argued in December at the high court.

Persons: Pharm Organizations: New York's Southern, Federal Court, Purdue Pharma, Purdue, U.S Locations: New York's, White Plains

☆ Political violence in polarized U.S. at its worst since 1970s
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +26 min

Three academics who reviewed the cases say they add to growing evidence that America is grappling with the biggest and most sustained increase in political violence since the 1970s. Political violence surged for nearly a decade starting in the late-1960s – 1970 alone saw more than 450 cases, LaFree said. In contrast, much of today’s political violence is aimed at people – and most of the deadly outbursts tracked by Reuters have come from the right. “Political warfare”There’s no official tally of how many Americans die each year from political violence. Most of the fatal political violence identified by Reuters was carried out by people who embraced far-right views.

Persons: Kristen King’s, King, “, Austin Combs, ”, “ He’s, wailed, Anthony King, Donald Trump, Gary LaFree, LaFree, Rachel Kleinfeld, Carnegie’s Kleinfeld, Trump, Christopher Wray’s, Combs, Let’s, Joe Biden, Dave Spurrier, ” Combs, Wayne Staton, gaunt, Bri Smith, “ honk, Bubba, Ross, Cody Lee Harbaum, ” Harbaum, Edgar, Floyd Rockwell, Terry B’s, “ Hillary, Kim Jenkins, Patti Betz, “ Austin, Betz, Miss Patti, ‘, ” Betz, Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, Paul, Nancy Pelosi’s, Katie Pridemore, Shawn Popp, Popp, Donald Henry, Henry, ’, Craig Greenberg, Quintez Brown, Greenberg, Brown, ” Brown, Robert Telles, Telles, Benjamin Smith, Dajah Beck, Beck, Smith, Allie Bradley, “ You’re, Bradley, Kristine Christenson, Ben Smiths, rightwing hecklers, ” Bradley, Knightly’s, Katherine Knapp, King’s, Kristen, Pridemore Organizations: Democrat, Reuters, U.S . Capitol, University of Maryland criminologist, Oklahoma, Federal Bureau of, Carnegie Endowment, International, Democratic, Trump, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, Republican, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Miss, . House, San, U.S, Capitol, Media, Attorney’s Office, Judicial, Las, Veterans, Pridemore Locations: OKEANA, Ohio, Okeana, America, Florida, Portland, Buffalo, Washington, Butler County, Brandon, Butler, Hamilton, San Francisco, Wisconsin, New Mexico, U.S, Louisville , Kentucky, China, Taiwan, California, Clark County , Nevada, Las Vegas, Normandale, Portland , Oregon, ”

London CNN —Hundreds of people lined the streets to pay tribute to the late Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor on Tuesday, cheering, clapping and throwing flowers as her funeral cortege drove past her old house in Bray, County Wicklow, in Ireland. O’Connor, known for her pure voice and political activism, died last month at the age of 56. Whilst O’Connor had a public funeral procession, her burial was held privately. People react as fans gather outside late Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor's former home to say their last goodbye to her on the day of her funeral procession. Clodagh Kilcoyne/ReutersO’Connor was known for her political activism and many of the crowd at the funeral procession followed suit.

Persons: Sinéad O’Connor, O’Connor, Sinéad O'Connor, Mick Hutson, Redferns, Bob Geldof, Bono, Leo Varadkar, Michael D, Higgins, Sabina, ” “, Sinéad O'Connor's, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Reuters O’Connor, Shaykh Dr Umar Al, Qadri, X, Al, O’Connor “, ” Organizations: London CNN, Volkswagen, RTE, Taoiseach, Irish, CNN, Ireland, Reuters, Islamic, of Ireland Locations: Irish, Bray , County Wicklow, Ireland, Palestine, Bray, Dublin, United States

☆ Fritz says climate protests 'annoying' after match suspended
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsAug 5 (Reuters) - World number nine Taylor Fritz said climate activists need to find a better way of protesting instead of "annoying" sports fans by interrupting events, after his Washington Open match against Andy Murray was briefly halted on Friday. "I get they're protesting, but there's just got to be a better way to do it," Fritz told reporters. I jokingly said, 'Honestly, this makes me want to go fly on jets more'," Fritz said with a smile. "I think they're supporting a good cause, but the way they're doing it... Who's going to want to listen when they're just annoying everybody?" Fritz returned in the evening to seal a 6-3 6-3 victory over Jordan Thompson to storm into the semi-finals, where he takes on Tallon Griekspoor.

Persons: Taylor Fritz, Andy Murray, Geoff Burke, there's, Fritz, doesn't, Jordan Thompson, Tallon Griekspoor, Shrivathsa Sridhar, William Mallard Organizations: D.C, Citi DC, Fitzgerald Tennis, USA, Washington, Mubadala, Citi, Wimbledon, Premiership Rugby, National, Thomson Locations: Washington, USA, Bengaluru

☆ Thousands protest against Germany's far-right AfD party
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MAGDEBURG, Germany, July 29 (Reuters) - Thousands took to the streets to protest against the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Friday and Saturday as the party held a convention to choose its candidates for European parliamentary elections next year. Polling at 22% behind the opposition conservatives, the AfD denies it is a Nazi party. [1/5]People gather on the day of the European election assembly 2023 of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Magdeburg, Germany, July 29, 2023. Germany's main opposition leader Friedrich Merz was on Monday forced to row back from comments suggesting he could work with the AfD at a local level. Vocal among the protesters in Magdeburg were "Grannies against the far-right" calling for an end to racism and far-right politics.

Persons: Alice Weidel, Friedrich Merz, Merz, Maria Martinez, Oliver Denzer, Alvise Armellini, Giles Elgood Organizations: Protesters, Nazi, Analysts, Repubblica, REUTERS, Christian Democrats, CDU, Vocal, Thomson Locations: MAGDEBURG, Germany, Magdeburg

☆ UK university marking strike leaves thousands of students stuck in limbo
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Kylie Maclellan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A spokesperson for Britain's Home Office said international students without results can request a letter of confirmation from their sponsor or return to their home country and apply for another student visa. The University of Edinburgh said 27% of final year students had not received their degree at the time of graduation. International students pay much more, providing a vital source of income. Research published by Universities UK International in May found the 2021/22 intake of international students contributed 41.9 billion pounds to the UK economy. "Every year, universities in the UK are depending more and more on the finances of international students," said Hendricks.

Persons: Maja Smiejkowska, Amelia Dias, Dias, Anna Hendricks, Ailsa Watt, Watt, Gillian Keegan, Hendricks, Kylie MacLellan, Jan Harvey Organizations: London College of Communication, University of the Arts London, REUTERS, University of Edinburgh, Colleges Employers Association, University and College Union, National Union of Students, University of Cambridge, University, Scottish, International, British Council, Times Higher, Higher Education Statistics Agency, Universities UK International, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Edinburgh, British, Florida, Spanish, Shanghai

☆ Fans and family bid tearful farewell to 'French icon' Jane Birkin
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, July 24 (Reuters) - Hundreds of fans joined film legends and family members to bid farewell to British-born actress and singer Jane Birkin at her funeral in Paris on Monday. Film star Catherine Deneuve, singer Vanessa Paradis and first Lady Brigitte Macron were among the mourners in the Saint-Roch church. Outside, tearful fans waving banners marked with "Jane Forever" and "Thank you Jane Birkin" watched the ceremony on a giant screen on the corner of Rue des Pyramides and Rue Saint-Honore. [1/4]Flowers are seen in front of the Church of Saint-Roch before the funeral of late singer, actress and muse Jane Birkin in Paris, France, July 24, 2023. President Emmanuel Macron declared Birkin "a French icon" after her death was announced on July 16 at the age of 76.

Persons: Jane Birkin, Catherine Deneuve, Vanessa Paradis, Brigitte Macron, Roch, Jane Forever, Honore, Birkin's, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Pascal Rossignol, Lou Doillon, Alain Souchon, Etienne Daho, Matthieu Chedid, Emmanuel Macron, Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg, Dominique Vidalon, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Monday, Rue des Pyramides, Rue Saint, of Saint, REUTERS, Overseas, Thomson Locations: British, Paris, Saint, Rue, France

☆ Hollywood Strikes Mean Steady Diet of Reruns, Game Shows and Reality TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( John Koblin | More About John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Scripted television series premiering at a slower pace. The “New Releases” and “Just Added” banners on streaming services piling up with reality shows, documentaries and international fare. Ninety-minute episodes of “Survivor” and “60 Minutes.” A steady diet of Pat Sajak, Steve Harvey and David Spade hosting game shows in prime time. For the better part of a decade, viewers have been inundated with dozens of new scripted shows every month, an overwhelming era in entertainment known as Peak TV. The days of 600 new scripted shows a year are officially over and unlikely to return.

Persons: Pat Sajak, Steve Harvey, David Spade Organizations: Survivor

[1/5] A Domino's staff member stands next to a sign for a 49-rupee pizza at a restaurant in Noida, India, July 4, 2023. A: With the world's cheapest Domino's pizza. "You are coming to the store or open the app, because there is a 49-rupee callout," he said, adding that Domino's global team supported the plans. Domino's global HQ referred queries about India to its local franchisee. When Khetarpal visited Domino's stores in Chennai and other cities, he said he saw customers emptying out their pockets and only being able to scrape together 49 rupees.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Sameer Khetarpal, Khetarpal, Merrill Pereyra, They'll, Akshay Jatia, Westlife, It's, Devanshu Bansal, Kiran Raj, Praveen Paramasivam, Aditya Kalra, Saurabh Sharma, Jatindra, Brenda Goh, Hilary Russ, Abhirup Roy, Miyoung Kim, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, India, Sapphire Foods, Domino's, Burger King's, Restaurant Brands, Euromonitor, Yum Brands, Global Financial Services, Pravin Char, Thomson Locations: Noida, India, CHENNAI, DELHI, America, Shanghai, San Francisco, Burger, zeroing, Pizza, New Delhi, Chennai, Burger King's India, United States, U.S, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, New York, Singapore

Scores of people set off on a 40-mile trek on foot from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On Tuesday, President Biden held a meeting with Mr. Herzog, who serves as Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, at the White House. Several lawmakers critical of Israel said they would boycott Mr. Herzog’s speech to Congress to protest the Israeli government’s policies. Some members of the Israeli military reserves have campaigned against the law, and labor unions have threatened general strikes. Scores of protesters were also marching from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, carrying blue-and-white Israeli flags and chanting “De-mo-cra-tya!” — Hebrew for democracy.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Biden, Herzog, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, ”, “ Organizations: Doctors, U.S, White, Mr, ”, United States Embassy Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, United States

☆ Protests Simmer in Israel as Country’s President Prepares to Address Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Isabel Kershner | More About Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Small protests cropped up across Israel on Wednesday, illustrating the broad, grass-roots nature of popular opposition to plans by the government to overhaul the country’s judiciary, drawing in key sectors of the economy, the security establishment and society. Employees of Israel’s vaunted high-tech industry gathered on bridges and at busy junctions. Scores of people set off on a 40-mile trek on foot from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The protests appeared timed to coincide with a planned address to the U.S. Congress by President Isaac Herzog later on Wednesday that would come at a fraught period in the relations between Israel and the United States. On Tuesday, President Biden held a meeting with Mr. Herzog, who serves as Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, at the White House.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Biden, Herzog Organizations: Doctors, U.S, White Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, United States

What is the Naadam festival? “Naadam means ‘games’ in the Mongolian language and it includes three main competitions, Mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing,” he explains. The Naadam games took place virtually for two years, from 2020-2021, because of the pandemic. Kyodo/APIn addition to the major festivities held in Ulaanbaatar, there are Naadam games – of different scales – held across Mongolia in the countryside. A female archer strikes a pose at a small Naadam festival at the Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia's Gobi Desert in 2019.

Persons: Genghis Khan, Here’s, Naadam, It’s, ”, “ Naadam, Genghis, Barry Lewis, –, Yesunge, Tessa Chan, Alison Wright, David, Goliath, Wu Hong Organizations: CNN, Manly Games, Nomadic Expeditions, “, UNESCO, Intangible, Heritage, Humanity, South China Morning, Mongolian Government, Mongolian, Mongolia, Archery, Kyodo, AP, Archery Field, Shutterstock Locations: Mongolia, gers, Mongol, Ulaanbaatar, Uliastai, Western Mongolia, South, Mongolian, Australia, New Zealand, Ulaanbataar

☆ Protesters Rally Across Israel in New Push Against Legal Overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | More About Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Thousands of Israelis blocked major highways and held dozens of rallies across central Israel on Tuesday to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to finalize a law next week that would limit the power of the Supreme Court. Despite temperatures of more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit in some places, protesters marched through several cities in a renewed effort to stop the government proceeding with a binding vote on the law in Parliament, which is likely to be on Monday. Some held huge roadside banners that read “Netanyahu divides the nation,” while others displayed a giant picture of Theodor Herzl, a founding father of modern Zionism, emblazoned with the slogan: “This is not what I meant.”One group hung a giant version of the Israeli declaration of independence from a highway flyover, and another blocked the doors to the Tel Aviv stock exchange. Women’s rights activists — dressed in crimson robes inspired by characters from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a novel by Margaret Atwood about a patriarchal, totalitarian state that was made into a television series — rallied in Raanana, central Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Theodor Herzl, —, ”, Margaret Atwood Organizations: Tel Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Raanana

☆ Wagner's failed rebellion could hit the Kremlin's ambitions for a 'pro-Russian state' in Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

BANGUI, Central African Republic - March 23, 2023: Demonstrators carry banners in Bangui, on March 22, 2023 during a march in support of Russia's presence in the Central African Republic. Hundreds of Wagner troops were spotted last week departing from Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic (CAR), where the Kremlin-linked group has its largest and broadest overseas presence. It comes just weeks after Wagner boss Prigozhin embarked on an ill-fated rebellion in Russia, ordering his troops fighting in Ukraine to march toward Moscow. Sky News reported Friday that the Wagner personnel who left CAR had refused to sign new these contracts. "Russian instructors will continue to aid soldiers in the Central African armed forces to ensure security in anticipation of the constitutional referendum scheduled for July 30."

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Alex Vines, Chris Weafer, Weafer, Chatham House's Vines, Faustin Organizations: Central African, Wagner, Central African Republic, Belorussian, Kremlin, Sky News, Officers, Union for International Security, Central, Africa, Chatham House, CNBC Locations: BANGUI, Central African Republic, Bangui, Moscow, Russia, Russia's, Ukraine, Africa, Central, Belarus, Russian, U.S, Chatham, CAR, Sudan, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, France

☆ Disney CEO Bob Iger says it's 'preposterous' that DeSantis suggests the company is sexualizing children
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Disney CEO Bob Iger blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for suggesting that the company is sexualizing children. DeSantis has repeatedly torched Disney since the company, under former CEO Bob Chapek, publicly opposed the governor's signature parental rights in education law that critics deemed "Don't Say Gay." "That was horrifying, quite frankly," Iger said. Despite all the back and forth with DeSantis, Iger emphasized that his goal is to try to steer the company out of the political debate.

Persons: Bob Iger, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Iger, CNBC's David Faber, Bob Chapek, Bryan Griffin, Disney, We've Organizations: Disney, Florida Gov, Service, Nazi, Disney World, Media, White Pride Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Orlando

☆ Fukushima wastewater: South Korean shoppers hoard salt, seafood ahead of Japan's release of treated radioactive water
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Jessie Yeung Yoonjung Seo Paula Hancocks | Jessie Yeung | Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The government has said the wastewater release will begin this summer, though it has not specified a date. The shortages were so acute that the government was forced to release sea salt from its official reserves to stabilize salt prices, which have soared more than 40% since April, according to the country’s salt manufacturing association. After a thorough safety review, it concluded in a report last week that the wastewater release would have “negligible” impact on people or the environment. The South Korean government said last week it would respect the IAEA’s findings. Photos show protesters holding banners that lambasted the IAEA and the Japanese government and condemned the wastewater release.

Persons: There’s, Chung Sung, Jung Yeon, ”, Lee Gi, I’m, ” Lee, Rafael Grossi, “, Lee, I’ve, … I’ve Organizations: Seoul CNN —, United Nations, CNN, Shoppers, Ministry of, Fisheries, Reuters, National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, Gallup, Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale, Getty, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, South Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Fukushima, Japan, United States, China, Gallup Korea

We like to call it the occupation of the Museum of Modern Art and the director is happy with the occupation," Krivich, 34, joked. "Many of my friends from Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Belarus feel at home here, also mentally, culturally and ideologically… We have a common past," Krivich told Reuters. The New Theatre not only gave the refugee actors a chance to perform but also helped them with accommodation and visas. "Poland is the only country where Belarusians can easily legalise their stay... All independent art initiatives that used to be in Minsk are now in Warsaw," said Dashuk. In May, a Moscow District Court arrested Vyrypaev in absentia for spreading "fake news" about the Russian army.

Persons: Yulia Krivich, Krivich, Marina Dashuk, Ivan Vyrypaev, Dashuk, Vyrypaev, Agnieszka Pikulicka, Gareth Jones Organizations: WARSAW, Soviet, Warsaw's Museum of Modern, Museum of Modern Art, Reuters, THEATRE Warsaw, New Theatre, Theatre, Teal, Ukrainian, Court, Thomson Locations: Soviet Union, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Russian, Moscow, Belarus, Central, Kyrgyzstan, Dashuk, Belarusian, Minsk, Warsaw, Europe

☆ South Korea LGBT festival proceeds, bumped from prime spot by Christian group
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 1 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands attended South Korea's largest annual LGBT festival on Saturday, vowing to continue fighting for gay rights after the Seoul city government denied them a prime spot and gave it to an anti-LGBT Christian group. "You can see a lot of hateful banners behind me as well as those that support us on our right," said Yang Sun-woo, chief organiser of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival. "South Korea is enjoying a rise in global status but LGBT rights here are at rock bottom," she said. The Christian group CTS, which has vocally opposed homosexuality, said it was not trying to thwart LGBT people. "Some ask why we need this queer festival, but it is the only time a year where we can all enjoy ourselves out in the open."

Persons: Yang Sun, ”, Cho Jong Yun, Kim Kyu Jin, Kim Saeyeon, Kyu Jin Kim, Nicole Kim, Hong Joon, Daewoung Kim, Hyunsu Yim, William Mallard Organizations: South, Christian, Seoul Queer Culture, CTS, LGBT, Gallup, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Seoul, COVID, Korea, South Korea, Daegu

Bed Bath & Beyond is splitting the bankruptcy-run auction of its Buy Buy Baby chain into two phases as the retailer struggles to nail down bids in a sale process now shrouded in doubt. An auction for all of Buy Buy Baby's assets was originally scheduled for 10 a.m. An initial winner will likely be chosen during Wednesday's intellectual property auction. The decision to split up the bidding comes after the retailer held separate sale proceedings for its Buy Buy Baby and Bed Bath & Beyond banners. The banner, which sells baby goods such as strollers, clothes and cribs, has long been considered the crown jewel of Bed Bath & Beyond's assets.

Persons: weren't

The grubby lanes of Musallahpur, in the north Indian city of Patna, heave with the foot traffic, banners and vending carts familiar to commercial hubs across India. Musallahpur is filled with brick-barn classrooms where 20-somethings crowd themselves and their heavy backpacks to train for standardized employment exams. With nearly 1,800 applicants for every one of the state’s top-tier jobs, they know it is the ultimate long shot. A thousand miles to the south, in the city of Coimbatore, a busy automotive parts entrepreneur, M. Ramesh, faces the flip side of India’s profound employment challenge. If the government has far more potential workers than it needs, Mr. Ramesh has far too few.

Persons: Ramesh Locations: Musallahpur, Patna, India, Coimbatore

Liang took the grueling two-day exam, known as the “gaokao,” in early June alongside nearly 13 million students nationwide. Students’ exam results are their only criteria for college admission – and most candidates only get one shot, with the test happening once a year. “It may be a little difficult if I want to go to a good university this year,” he said in the video. He’d even accepted that Sichuan University might be out of reach, deciding to attend any “key university” that would accept him. Ahead of this year’s test, many students visited temples to light incense and pray for good results.

Persons: Liang Shi, Liang, ”, he’s, “ I’m, livestream, “, He’d, master’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sichuan University, China Daily Locations: Hong Kong, ”, Sichuan, China, Nanjing

☆ A bolder CNN is emerging after the ouster of former network chief Chris Licht
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The post-Chris Licht era at CNN is taking shape. Viewers saw the most visible change on Monday when CNN updated the network’s on-screen banners that Licht had implemented in the final days before his departure. While the former network chief sought to tone down the volume, the emerging iteration of CNN is reporting the news in a bolder, unbridled way. To be clear, CNN has not reverted entirely back to the style of journalism that it practiced under former network chief Jeff Zucker. And the new programs that Licht introduced into the lineup, such as “CNN News Central,” remain in place, for now.

Persons: Chris Licht, Licht, I’m, Jeff Zucker, Donald Trump’s, it’s Organizations: CNN, CNN News Central Locations: Florida, Russia

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